I don’t have any images of the rear of the original walnut chest; however, roughly thirty years ago I restored a mid-eighteenth-century chest of remarkably similar quality and construction (though of mahogany) which had an oddly asymmetrical three-panel pine back. … Continue reading →

The walnut cross-grain moulding was formed along the serpentine front edge of the carcase’s baseboard prior to assembling the carcase (fig. 1). Fig. 1. The cross-grain moulding already opening up in the 41° (106°F) heat. I cut the one-sided dovetail … Continue reading →

I don’t have historic patterns for this precise chest of drawers, so the first few hours of the job were absorbed in making patterns for the serpentine carcase and drawer fronts, cock-beading, serpentine base moulding and bracket feet. The individual … Continue reading →

There is a particularly nice walnut chest of drawers coming up for auction in Christie’s The English Collector: English Furniture, Clocks, European Ceramics & Portrait Miniatures in King Street, London on the 19th of May 2016. The chest comprises a … Continue reading →

This commission was, on the face of it, quite enjoyable, but my respiratory system has an aversion to satinwood and within twelve hours of cutting the first piece, respirator or no, I developed quite uncomfortable cold-like symptoms. The brief was … Continue reading →